County · Hampshire County
Start an LLC in Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Businesses in Hampshire County form an LLC with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Corporations Division for $500, not with the county. In 2024 Hampshire County had 4,928 business establishments, 65,786 jobs and an average annual wage of $62,006. Land records for company property go to the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds. Our Starter package is $149 plus the state fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Massachusetts sources.
Establishments (2024)
4,928
Jobs (2024)
65,786
Average annual pay
$62,006
Population (2024)
165,399
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Doing business in Hampshire County
Hampshire County, in the Pioneer Valley, is home to Northampton, Amherst and Easthampton and several colleges and universities. It had 4,928 establishments and 65,786 jobs in 2024, with about 165,000 residents. With roughly 13 jobs per establishment its employers are larger on average than its neighbors', reflecting the colleges. Average annual pay was $62,006.
Land records record at the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds at 60 Railroad Avenue in Northampton.
Consultants, artists and farm businesses here often start as single-member LLCs. Remember the $500 annual report when you budget, and file a business certificate with the town clerk if you use a studio or farm-stand name.
Official sourceHampshire County Registry of Deeds
Massachusetts registries of deeds record deeds, mortgages and other land documents. If your LLC or corporation buys, sells or finances property in Hampshire County, the documents are recorded at the district office for the property's town. The registry does not form companies or issue business certificates.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Hampshire County Registry of Deeds |
| Address | 60 Railroad Avenue, Northampton, MA 01060 |
| Phone | 413-584-3637 |
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Hampshire County business numbers
Establishments, employment and pay are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (private and public, all industries); population is the Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Business establishments, 2024 annual average | 4,928 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 65,786 |
| Average annual pay, 2024 | $62,006 |
| Jobs per establishment | 13.3 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 165,399 |
| Residents per establishment | 34 |
| Rank among the 14 Massachusetts counties by establishments | #11 |
Sales tax and local permits in Hampshire County
Massachusetts charges one statewide sales and use tax of 6.25 percent (c. 64H, § 2), so a business in Hampshire County collects the same rate as one anywhere else in the Commonwealth. There is no county business license. Trade names are filed as business certificates with the clerk of each city or town where you have an office (c. 110, § 5), and building, zoning and board of health permits come from the town.
Official sourceForming the company, step by step
- Search the name on the Corporations Division's records and pick an LLC or corporate ending.
- File the Certificate of Organization ($500 for an LLC) or Articles of Organization ($275 for a corporation with up to 275,000 shares) with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- Name a resident or registered agent with a Massachusetts street address. Ours is $199 a year.
- Get an EIN from the IRS, then open a business bank account in the exact registered name.
- File a business certificate with your city or town clerk if you will trade under a different name.
- File the annual report each year: $500 for an LLC on its anniversary, $100 online for a corporation.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Hampshire registry?
At 60 Railroad Avenue in Northampton.
Do farm stands need a business certificate?
If the stand uses a name other than the owner's or the LLC's registered name, yes, with the town clerk.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Hampshire County?
$500 to the Corporations Division plus our package: Starter $149, Pro $299 or Complete $399. Add $199 a year for a resident agent unless you choose Complete.
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Massachusetts filings for owners. We are not the Secretary of the Commonwealth or its Corporations Division, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.